Game board



l I l I I i I. .i 145 a F 0. 3. [20 4. ATTORNEYS.

May 26, 1925. 1,539,198

L. A. MARSH GAME BOARD File F 12, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 15 1o 14 15 10 INVENTOR LUCIE/V A. MARSH.

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L. A. MARSH GAME BOARD May'26, 1925. 1,539,198"

Filed Feb. 12. 1923 3 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LUC/ENAJWARSH ATTORNEYS.

May 26, 1925. 1,539,198

I L. A. MARSH GAME BOARD Filed Feb, 923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I i uvvewroef LUC/EN A. MARSH I AT TORNEYISI Patented May 26, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1 LUCIEN A. MAR-SH, OF MILL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

GAME BOARD.

Application filed February 12, 1923. Serial No. 618,503.

To allwhom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LUCIEN A. MARSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mill Valley, county of Marin, and State of Cali-.

The present invention is particularly con cerned with a game board designed to, expedite the playing of the oriental game commonly known as mah-jongg or mah-juck.

This game isplayed with a number of flat oblong tiles or playing pieces, each bearing a character or legend on one face, these characters being factors in the game. 3

During the course of the game each 'playe accumulates a group of tiles, which is termed the players hand. Each player must maintain the characters on his group of tiles concealed from the other players and must refer to them at each play to determine the course he must pursue.

Prior to the present invention, it was customary for the players to arrange the tiles constituting their hands on edge with the charactered. faces concealed from the other players. While in this position, the tiles may be quickly referred to, but the players are forced to assume unnatural positions to distinguish the characters. This is tiresome and detracts from the interest in the game.

In order to overcome this disadvantage, de

vices termed racks were designed. These racks were constructed to support the tiles in a position where they could be easily referred to and distinguished by the player while in a. natural sitting position.

This idea has not proven entirely satisfactory as the racks are easily lost and broken and have to be removed from the game board each time the tiles are shuffled.

It is the object of the present invention, therefore, to provide game boards with means for supporting the tiles in a position where the players hands may be readily re ferred to and distinguished by the player while the latter is in a natural sitting position, and also to maintain the charactered faces of each p-layers hand concealed from the other players. The means referred to does not interfere with the shuffling of the tiles on the board.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form the invention may assume.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section view through the same taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

. Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views in vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, disclosing the filler member in two positions.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention in a slightly modified form. J

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the same taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of another form" of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the same taken on line8-8 of Fig. 7

In the accompanying drawings, in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, I show afgame board 10 having a playing surface 11. The board shown is square to accommodate four players. The space 12 adjacent each side of the table is termed the players playing space, where he may arrange his hand.

In this space, adjacent each side of the table, the playing surface is formed with a V-shaped groove 14. These grooves are of dimensions sufficient to accommodate filler members 15 which are connected to the board by concealed hinges 14? therein. When the filler members are in normal position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the surface of the board is smooth and uninterrupted. How ever, when the fillers are raised as shown in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 2, they co-operate with the grooves to form racks for supporting the players hands.

Reference being had to Fig. 3, it is seen that the racks mentioned support the tiles 16 at a slight angle from the vertical. This angle is sufficient to permit each player to distinguish the characters on the tiles constituting his hand, but not sufiicient to reveal each players hand to the others. It is seen that when the fillers are in down position the While I have shown the preferred forms of my invention, it is understood that various changesina its construction may be made without departing from thespirit ofthe invention as claimed.

Having thus described: niy invention,

what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is r 1. A rectangular game board adapted for use in playing a game employing flat'o'blong playing pieces. said board having a plane playing surface, V-shaped r grooves formed in said playing surface parallel to the sides of the gaine board, said grooves being adapted to recerve and support playing pieces at an angle with: relation to t'he verti cal, and filler members fitted 111 said grooves and hinged to the game board whereby they may be optionally disposed in: an upright position to cooperate with the grooves to support the playing pieces at an angle to the vertical or be nested in said grooves with their surfaces parallel to the playing surface of the board whereby the playing surface of the latter will be uninterrupted.

2. A game board comprising a plane top surface, a vertical flange extending around the outer edges of said surface and projecting' therea-bove; the outer faces of the sides of said board each being inclined downwardly and outwardly from said flanges and thence upwardly forming a V-shaped groove, the opposed plane faces of which intersect at the bottom thereof.

3; A game board comprising a plane top surface, a vertical flange extending around the outer edges of said surface and projecting th'ereabove, the outer faces of the sides of said bo'ard" each being inclined downwardly and outv'rardily from said flanges and thence upwardly forming. a Vshaped groove,- the opposed plane faces; of wliioh' intersectat the bottom thereof, theinner plane faces of said V sh'ap'e'd' groove being of substantially greater width than the outerplane faces thereof.

LUOIEN A. MARSH; 

